I want to talk in-depth about why the church fails to be the light and salt of the world. This is a problem that needs to be examined not only from an external perspective but also by those who protect and serve the church. I'll speak honestly and soberly about what we need to give up and what we need to hold on to in order to become the "salt of the earth" and "light of the world" that Jesus spoke of.
The "Enemy" Hiding Within: The True Identity of Satan and the Devil
A common reality for high-ranking officials who serve the church deeply is fighting against an internal enemy. They are often called "those who have fallen to Satan's temptations," but in reality, they are fellow church members, elders, deacons, and even pastors or evangelists.
Do these people really have a mysterious "spiritual discernment" that allows them to demonize others? No. They simply operate on the premise that "I am good and on God's side," and they label anyone who holds a different opinion as "Satan." In a church dominated by this logic, everyone—pastors, elders, and congregants—makes the other person a Satan by insisting, "I am right and you are wrong." This claim is particularly common among some pastors due to a sense of spiritual superiority, but in reality, those who are lacking in spirituality and recognition from others are more likely to assert their claims more strongly.
The moment you declare, "I am right," a battle with those around you becomes an unavoidable reality. So, shouldn't we be thinking, "We" are right, not "I"? And for that "we" to be right, there needs to be a constant process of verification. This is why we need the humility to ask "all of us" if "my" claim is truly right.
The Illusion Disguised as Faith: The Greed for "Success"
While working within the church, I've seen far too many people who act as if they have faith but don't live by it. This is especially true for senior pastors, many of whom are lax with tithing. It is common for them to hide income beyond their salary or not tithe properly. They exhibit the contradiction of being almost the only ones in the world who emphasize the tithing culture of the Old Testament while failing to practice it themselves.
I also see them praying anxiously for a specific outcome before an important event, rather than simply praying to God. I have never seen a pastor ready to fail if God wills it. They often get lost in their self-centered thinking, shouting only for "victory." Whenever this happens, I wanted to tell them, "You should pray, you should be ready to fail if God says so," but it was not an easy thing to say to those trapped in a Christian culture that only values "winning and victory."
Misconceptions About "Fighting" and "Victory"
The church often preaches, "Let's win with faith!" This phrase dichotomizes the world as evil and the church as good, putting congregants in a combative state. They go out into the world wearing the "full armor of God" to do battle, but in reality, they experience repeated frustration and defeat, and they return to the church.
This is because they have misunderstood "winning with faith" as "beating others in a fight." By constantly trying to fight and win, they are more likely to make enemies and become inflexible. This is a problem that arises from focusing solely on right and wrong and refusing to admit when they are wrong.
Jesus did not teach us to defeat others. On the contrary, he said, "If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also," and "If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles." This does not mean fighting to defeat others; it means winning the battle against your own inner self. Even if you fail and lose in a competition with others, learning humility and love in that process is true faith.
Despite this, many Christians will not hesitate to resort to extreme behavior, saying, "If I can't win with skill, I'll win with prayer." This type of behavior, which demonizes and tries to defeat others, has been called "pseudo-Christianity," with the far-right 'Taegeukgi' groups being a prime example. True faith is not about achieving visible success or social standing but about nurturing your inner self to mature before God. A heart that can be happy even when failing in competition with others—that is the very image of faith that Jesus spoke of.
What is the True Image of a Christian?
We must abandon the desire to be the best within the church. If someone shouts, "Let's fight and win," it might be because they are unable to fight their own inner evil and are trying to create a common enemy to fight. If there is a person who incites such behavior, they themselves might be the devil.
A Christian should not try to win in horizontal relationships. They should only strive for spiritual victory in a vertical relationship—the battle within their own self—by focusing on God alone. Greed can be a driving force or a motivator, but it ultimately causes problems. We must act with purpose, not with greed. Success achieved through greed may bring temporary happiness, but it cannot guarantee eternal happiness.
In his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul confessed, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." Here, "the good fight" does not mean a physical fight against others but a victory over persecution, hardship for the sake of the gospel, and internal temptations. The true fight in Christianity is not about competitive victory but about a fight with oneself against sin and evil.
To live as the light and salt of the world, we must now stop fighting others and win the battle only within ourselves.
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